Chrysanthemum plant named `Icey Isle`

ABSTRACT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum, botanically known as Dendranthema grandiflora, and referred to by the cultivar name Icey Isle.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

Icey Isle originated from a cross made by Peter S. Hesse in a controlledbreeding program at Clearwater Nursery, 887 Mesa Rd., Nipomo, Calif.98444, USA.

The female parent of Icey Isle was the commercial variety Splendor (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 5,225) and the male parent was Hopscotch (U.S. Plant Pat.No. 5,816). Icey Isle was discovered and selected as one flowering plantwithin the progeny of the stated cross by Peter S. Hesse in Nov. 1989,in a controlled environment in Nipomo, Calif.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Icey Isle was accomplished inJan. 1990, when vegetative cuttings were taken in a controlledenvironment at Clearwater Nursery, Nipomo, Calif., by Peter S. Hesse.

Horticultural examination of controlled flowerings of successiveplantings has shown that the unique combination of characteristics asherein disclosed for Icey Isle are firmly fixed and are retained throughsuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

Icey Isle has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in theenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and day lenth.

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plantsgrown in controlled environments at Clearwater Nursery, Nipomo, Calif.Unrooted cuttings were directly stuck into 6.5 inch pots and grown in acontrolled environment under the natural temperature and day lengthprevailing in Jan. 1990 to March 1990.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Icey Isle which, in combination, distinguishthis Chrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar.

1. Flat Capitulum Form.

2. Daisy Capitulum Type.

3. White fully expanded outer ray florets.

4. Yellow Daisy disc with green eye.

5. A diameter of 13.3 cm across the face of the capitulum.

6. Exceptional upright to spreading habit with an average of 3.0 breaksafter a single pinch.

7. Flowering response is approximately 58 days from the start of shortdays.

8. Relatively easy to control plant height from bench such that thefinished height will range from 40 to 45 centimeters depending on potsize and market requirements.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows typical inflorescence and leafcharacteristics of Icey Isle with the colors being as nearly true aspossible with illustrations of this type. The photograph shows Icey Islegrown as a pinched spray pot mum with five (5) cuttings in a 6.5 inchpot.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

Of the commercial cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar incomparison to Icey Isle are the cultivars Splendor and Hopscotch.Reference is made to Table I which compares certain characteristics ofIcey Isle to the same characteristics of the above mentioned cultivars.

                  TABLE I                                                         ______________________________________                                                     HOP-                                                             CHARACTERISTIC                                                                             SCOTCH    ICEY ISLE  SPLENDOR                                    ______________________________________                                        CAPITULUM    Flat      Flat       Flat                                        FORMS                                                                         CAPITULUM TYPE                                                                             Daisy     Daisy      Daisy                                       DIAMETER     7.5 cm    13.3 cm    12.2 cm                                     ACROSS FACE                                                                   BRANCHING    Upright   Upright    Upright                                     PATTERN      Spreading Spreading  Spreading                                   BREAKS/PINCH 4.4       3.0        4.0                                         HEIGHT IN 6.5"                                                                             40-45 cm  40-45 cm   40-45 cm                                    POT WITH 1-2                                                                  APPLICATIONS B-9                                                              RESPONSE:    8.5 weeks 8.5 weeks  9.0 weeks                                   TREATMENT    medium    medium     medium                                                   vigorous  vigorous   vigorous                                                 grower    grower     grower                                      DISC FLORETS                                                                  DISC FLORET  Yellow    Yellow     Yellow                                      COLOR                                                                         NO. OF DISC  183.2     215.0      133.8                                       FLORETS                                                                       LENGTH OF DISC                                                                             0.6 cm    0.7 cm     0.6 cm                                      FLORETS                                                                       RAY FLORETS                                                                   COLOR                                                                         FRONT: fully 9A        155B       75A                                         expanded     Yellow    White      Purple                                      FRONT: unfolded                                                                            9A        155B       75A                                         ray florets  Yellow    White      Purple                                      BACK: fully  6A        155B       75D                                         expanded outer                                                                             Yellow    White      Purple                                      ray floret                                                                    NUMBER       32.6      46.0       52.3                                        SHAPE        Elliptic  Elliptic   Elliptic                                    LENGTH       3.85 cm   5.9 cm     5.2 cm                                      WIDTH        1.43 cm   1.7 cm     1.5 cm                                      TOTAL NUMBER 6.7       11.8       10.4                                        OF FLOWERS/                                                                   BREAK                                                                         LEAF                                                                          COLOR:       Front:    Front: 147A                                                                              Front: 139A                                              147A      Back: 147B Back: 138A                                               Back: 147B                                                       MATURE LEAF  Up to 10.2                                                                              Up to 10.5 cm                                                                            Up to 8.4 cm                                LENGTH:      cm                                                               MATURE LEAF  5.95 cm   6.4 cm     4.5 cm                                      WIDTH:                                                                        ______________________________________                                    

Similar traits of the three cultivars include: The large flat, daisycapitulum. The diameter of the capitulum of Icey Isle tends to beslightly larger than the capitulum of Splendor. Both Splendor and IceyIsle tend to have significantly larger diameter capitulums thanHopscotch. All three cultivars have similar upright, spreading branchingpatterns. Icey Isle tends to have fewer numbers of breaks per pinch perplant than both Hopscotch and Splendor. The finished plant height andthe color of the disc florets is also similar for the three cultivars.Icey Isle tends to have more disc florets than either Hopscotch orSplendor. The length of the disc florets is also similar for the threecultivars. The front ray floret color of Icey Isle is white 155B, forHopscotch is yellow 9A, and for Splendor is purple 75D. The back rayfloret color of Icey Isle is white 155B, for Hopscotch yellow 6A, andfor Splendor is purple 75D. Icey Isle has the largest number of rayflorets followed by Splendor. Hopscotch has the fewer number of rayflorets. The ray florets of all three cultivars are elliptic. Splendorand Icey Isle have similar length ray florets. Both cultivars havelonger ray florets than Hopscotch. The width of the ray florets issimilar for all three cultivars. The color of the leaves of Icey Isleare similar to Hopscotch. Icey Isle has the longest mature leaf lengthfollowed by Hopscotch, with Splendor having the shortest leaf. The threecultivars have similar leaf width. The response time from the start ofshort days is the same for Hopscotch and Icey Isle at 8.5 weeks.Response time is slightly higher for Splendor 9.0 weeks.

THE PLANT

Classification

Botanical.--Dendranthema grandiflora. Cultivar name: Icey Isle.

Commercial.--Flat daisy to be grown primarily as a Spray/CBR (center budremoved) or Disbud pot mum.

Inflorescence

Capitulum.--Form: Flat. Type: Daisy. Diameter across face: 13.3 cm.

Ray florets.--Color: White (general tonality within a distance of three(3) meters). Front: Fully expanded ray floret 155B. Front: Unfolded rayflorets in center of flower. Back: Fully expanded outer ray floret 155B.Disc Floret Color: Edge begins with 14A to Center Green of 141C. Shape:Elliptic.

Corolla of Disc Florets.--Color: White.

Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Present in disc floret; pollen: scant.

Gynoecium.--Present in both ray and disc floret.

General appearance:

Height.--When grown in a 6.5 inch pot with 1-4 applications of B-NINE™at the rate of 2500 ppm, the total plant height from the bottom of thepot may be maintained at 40-45 cm.

Branching pattern: Upright and spreading with an average of 3.0 breakswhen grown with one pinch.

Foliage.--Color: (upper surface) 147A. Color: (lower surface) 147B.Shape: (see photograph).

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named Icey Isle substantially as herein described and shown, characterized by its white floret coloration and excellent upright spreading habit. 